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Two players remain in battle for final Knicks roster spot

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And then there were two.

The Knicks waived three players on nonguaranteed contracts ahead of Thursday’s preseason finale, leaving James Wiseman and Bruce Brown as the two remaining for at least one roster spot.

Centers Drew Eubanks and Tony Bradley were cut, along with athletic wing Ochai Agbaji. Eubanks suffered a torn pectoral muscle this week, sealing his fate with the Knicks. 

James Wiseman #35 of the New York Knicks boxes out during the game against the Toronto Raptors. NBAE via Getty Images

But Wiseman was the frontrunner since camp started, as The Post reported, and the 25-year-old enhanced his standing with an 18-point, 10-rebound effort in Tuesday’s preseason loss to the Raptors. 

The Knicks, who are thin in the frontcourt with only Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond, have prioritized a center for their final roster spot, placing Wiseman in strong position to make the final roster. The former second overall pick has been saddled by injuries throughout his career – and was waived last season by the Pacers – but has a fan in Knicks head coach Mike Brown, who coached Wiseman as the top assistant with the Warriors. 

Bruce Brown, a combo guard, has also impressed in camp and holds, by far, the best NBA résumé of the players on non-guaranteed deals.

To keep both Wiseman and Brown, the Knicks would have to make a trade to free up enough cap space under the second apron. 


Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard tries to steal the ball from New York Knicks guard Bruce Brown during a game.
Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard, back, tries to steal the ball from New York Knicks guard Bruce Brown. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP

Pacome Dadiet is the most logical to be shipped out by the Knicks – as a first-round disappointment, he has no path to playing time – but that would likely require second-round picks attached to compel a team to take his $3 million salary. 

Tyler Kolek and especially Miles McBride are more valuable in the trade market.

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